A practical guide to Natural England’s new night shooting licence, who can use it, what qualifications are required, and how deer managers can become compliant quickly.
Why the CL55 Night Licence Has Been Introduced
The release of Natural England’s new Class Licence CL55 – Licence to Kill Deer at Night by Shooting marks one of the most significant changes to deer management legislation in England for a generation.
This change has not happened in isolation, nor overnight. It follows many months of detailed engagement between regulators, enforcement bodies and professional training providers to address a growing and well-recognised issue: the need for a lawful, proportionate and practical framework for night-time deer control in situations where daytime management alone is no longer sufficient.
Expanding deer populations, increasing road traffic collisions, agricultural damage and impacts on sensitive habitats have all contributed to the need for reform. The previous system, based on individual, site-specific licences, was widely regarded as administratively burdensome and poorly suited to modern deer management at scale.
CL55 replaces that approach with a streamlined class licence, placing greater emphasis on demonstrable competence, accountability and reporting, while reducing unnecessary bureaucracy.
Crucially, this new framework has been shaped through extended collaboration between the Shooting & Hunting Academy, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and Natural England, ensuring that the final licence reflects real-world deer management practice while maintaining the highest standards of safety and welfare.
What Is CL55 and What Does It Allow?
CL55 is a class licence, meaning it applies to all registered users who meet the eligibility criteria and comply with its conditions.
Once registered, CL55 allows authorised individuals to shoot deer at night for specific lawful purposes, including:
- Preventing serious damage to agriculture, forestry or property
- Conserving natural habitats and biodiversity
- Protecting public safety
For the purposes of the licence, night is defined as the period between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
The licence applies only during the relevant open seasons for each species and only on sites that have been formally notified to Natural England in advance.
A Modern, Registration-Based System
One of the most important changes introduced by CL55 is the move away from individual licences toward a registration-based model.
Instead of applying repeatedly for permission, deer managers now:
- Register once with Natural England as an authorised CL55 user
- Notify sites where night shooting is required
- Operate lawfully under the class licence conditions
- Report activity after each use of the licence
This approach provides clarity for deer managers and regulators alike, while ensuring that only suitably qualified and experienced individuals can operate under the licence.
Who Can Register? Understanding the Four User Categories
Natural England has defined four categories of eligible individuals under CL55. These categories reflect differing levels of experience and qualification, but all require evidence of competence.
In summary:
- Category 1 – Individuals previously named on night shooting licences with a strong compliance history
- Category 2 – Holders of a recognised basic deer stalking qualification (PDS1) and an approved Night Shooting Certificate (NSC - such as that provided by the Shooting & Hunting Academy) and with recent experience of culling deer
- Category 3 – Holders of a recognised basic deer stalking qualification (PDS1) and documented night-time wildlife control experience
- Category 4 – Holders of advanced deer stalking qualifications with in-depth knowledge of night shooting equipment and techniques* (* As may be evidenced by completion of NSC provided by the Shooting & Hunting Academy).
Each category places competence, experience and accountability at its core.
Recognised Qualifications: What Counts Under CL55?
A central pillar of CL55 is the requirement for formally recognised qualifications.
Natural England has published a definitive list of “suitable qualifications” on GOV.UK. Importantly, only a very small number of providers meet these criteria.
The Shooting & Hunting Academy is one of only two providers whose qualifications are explicitly recognised within the CL55 framework.
Basic Deer Stalking Qualifications
Recognised basic qualifications under CL55 include:
- Proficient Deer Stalking Level 1 (PDS1) – delivered by the Shooting & Hunting Academy
Night Shooting Qualifications
For night-time competence, recognised CL55 qualifications include:
- Night Shooting Certificate (NSC) – delivered by the Shooting & Hunting Academy
The NSC has been designed specifically to align with the CL55 eligibility criteria, covering:
- Legal responsibilities
- Safe night-time shooting practices
- Use of night vision and thermal equipment
- Shot placement, identification and welfare considerations
- Risk assessment and accountability
Advanced Qualifications
Advanced qualifications recognised under CL55 include:
- Proficient Deer Stalking Level 2 (PDS2) – Shooting & Hunting Academy
Together, PDS1, NSC and PDS2 provide a clear, structured pathway for deer managers seeking to operate lawfully under CL55.
Why Accessibility Matters
A key strength of the CL55 framework is its recognition that deer management must be deliverable at scale.
The Shooting & Hunting Academy’s Night Shooting Course (NSC) is available online, allowing deer managers to:
- Enrol immediately
- Learn at their own pace
- Avoid long waits for fixed classroom dates
- Fit training around professional and seasonal commitments
This flexible delivery model reflects the reality of modern deer management and supports rapid, lawful uptake of CL55 where it is genuinely needed.
By contrast, more traditional training models reliant on limited, in-person classroom attendance can create bottlenecks, particularly during peak periods when night shooting is most required. CL55 has been designed to avoid exactly this problem.
Site Notification: What You Must Do Before Shooting
Registration alone does not allow immediate use of CL55.
Before any night shooting takes place, users must submit a site notification to Natural England at least five working days in advance.
The notification must include:
- Site location and boundaries
- Species present
- Purpose of the proposed action
- Estimated numbers
Only once a site has been notified does CL55 apply at that location.
Reporting Requirements: Accountability Built In
CL55 introduces clear and mandatory post-activity reporting.
After each period of night shooting, registered users must submit a report to Natural England within 14 days, even if no deer are taken.
Reports must include:
- Species
- Sex
- Age class
- Location data
This reporting requirement underlines the licence’s emphasis on transparency, evidence-based management and regulatory confidence.
What CL55 Means for Deer Managers
CL55 represents a mature, modern approach to night-time deer control in England. It:
- Replaces fragmented individual licences
- Recognises professional competence
- Supports modern equipment and methods
- Encourages consistent national standards
- Reduces unnecessary administrative delay
Most importantly, it provides deer managers with a clear, lawful route to undertake night shooting where it is genuinely justified.
With recognised qualifications such as the PDS1, NSC and PDS2 available through the Shooting & Hunting Academy, deer managers now have immediate access to compliant training that aligns directly with Natural England’s expectations.
To find out more about the Night Shooting Course follow this link: Night Shooting Course
Left: Peter S Jones
